Teachers' shortage in Barguna primary schools

Academic and administrative activities at government primary schools in Barguna are being seriously hampered due to acute crisis of headmasters and assistant teachers.

According to district primary education office, 310 out of 810 government primary schools in six upazilas of the district are running without any regular headmaster for long.

Moreover, 337 posts of assistant teachers are also lying vacant, much to the sufferings of students and fellow teachers in the institution.

Of the 310 headmaster posts, 98 posts of headmasters are lying vacant in Barguna Sadar upazila, 79 in Amtali, 56 in Pathorghata, 39 in Taltali, 25 in Bamna and 13 in Betagi upazila, sources at the district primary education office said.

Besides, 75 posts of assistant teachers remained vacant in Pathorghata upazila, 65 in Sadar, 61 in Taltali, 56 in Bamna, 42 in Amtali and 38 in Betagi upazila.

While visiting Nishanbaria Government Primary School in Sadar upazila this correspondent saw only two teachers against five posts are running the academic activities of 105 students of the institution.

Assistant teacher Nazma Begum, who has been serving as acting headmaster of the school, often has to go to upazila and district education offices for administrative work and a single teacher runs all the five classes during that time, which is quite difficult.

Academic and administrative activities at the institution are greatly hampered due to shortage of a headmaster and assistant teachers, she said.

Headmaster Porimol Chandra of Deshantorkathi Government Primary School in Betagi upazila said they cannot teach their students properly due to acute crisis of teachers.

Headmaster of Uttar Gerabunia Government Primary School in Amtali upazila said it is very difficult to run an educational institution with only two teachers.

Barguna District Primary Education Officer Md Robiul Hossain said he has already informed the higher authorities about the vacant posts but yet to get any response.